Okonkwo and larger ideas in TFA

What is the significance of Okonkwo’s character? What does he represent or is symbolic of? 

In Things Fall Apart, the protagonist Okonkwo can be seen as representative of the conservative values of his society, its intolerance and inflexibility. Nevertheless, to go further, it can be stated that Okonkwo himself is symbolic of his Igbo society to an extent. His courage, hyper-masculinity and fear of failure are all values that have been instilled in him by his societal surroundings, they are not values that define him individually. Following the idea that Okonkwo is representative of Igbo society, it also is concluded that his weaknesses are those of his society. This is reflected in his stubbornness and inflexibility in how, for instance, he decides to go with the delegation that is to kill Ikemefuna, despite his emotional instinct and Ezeudu’s advice. This stubbornness with the ultimate purpose of not being shown as weak is also directly reflected in Igbo society with the osu. Igbo society completely dehumanizes them and makes them outcasts simply because they are different or peculiar in some physical way. This exclusion can be seen as justifiable because those differences could represent similarly, a weakness in Igbo society. The Igbo do not understand the reasons why those people are different, and that mystery, that difference, that unpredictability, could pose a weakness for their tribe.  

Okonkwo, nevertheless, is also representative of the hypocrisy of balance and equality in Igbo society. Although the Igbo strive for equality amongst man and women as a principle of cosmological and religious balance and duality, a patriarchal system continues to exist. It could be said that there is some equality seen in how the Earth deity (one of the most important ones) is female and how the Oracle of Agbala is a female priestess. Nevertheless, on a cultural, more human level, this is not the case. Men are still discouraged from showing emotions because that is attached to gentleness, a female trait. As to provide an example, Okonkwo wishes that Ezinma was a boy because her strength of character is more compliant with society’s expectations from a boy. Yam is still seen as man’s crop, the fact that in some tribes the children belong to the woman is looked down upon in Okonkwo’s village, and men are allowed to have multiple wives which to an extent, effectively objectives them (the more wives, the more success the man has had). Okonkwo, thus, in his portrayal of hyper-masculinity is reflective of Igbo patriarchal values and by extension, the hypocrisy in wanting to reach for duality and balance.

What is the purpose of Okonkwo’s character within the text? 

Following the idea of the danger of only listening to ‘one story’ and making assumptions from there, Okonkwo’s character could be said to serve the purpose of providing an opposing perspective to who the Igbo are. From the previous arguments, it is seen that Okonkwo strictly externalizes his society’s values and he is inflexible in allowing for deviations from the original societal expectations. Nevertheless, it is seen that he is not the only accurate representation of the Igbo and Achebe is warning the reader of making generalizations. This is seen in Obierika’s character as he is constantly questioning the decisions the Igbo make– he questions the treatment of twins, and Okonkwo’s punishment. It is thus seen that not all Igbo comfort unrelentingly to societal expectations and norms. 

How does Okonkwo’s character contribute to big ideas?

Okonkwo’s character contributes to the main ideas of societal conformity and the dangers of being inflexible. Okonkwo’s fate contributes to the larger idea of “what doesn’t bend will break”.  Okonkwo, unlike the rest of his tribesmen, refuses to accept the arrival of the new religion. The reason why the rest of his tribesmen to an extent, are not violent with the missionaries, is based on the principle of hospitality. Nevertheless, Okonkwo chooses to not apply this principle because he does not want things to change. However, this is seen as a double-edged sword because his inability to adapt to change and accept that the old way are being replaced by the new leads to his suicide. When he comes back from exile, his values have stayed the same but those of his tribe have been transformed after welcoming the new religion and Western ways with more open arms. Okonkwo won’t and can not change. Achebe therefore warns us, through Okonkwo’s fate, of the importance of being flexible in our values because culture is never stationary but rather, constantly fluctuating.